the scouts of the valley-第4章

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nace。

〃Feels　good；　doesn't　it；　Henry？〃　said　the　shiftless　one。　〃　I　like　a　clean；　bold　country　like　this。　　No　more　plowin'　around　in　swamps　for　me。〃

Yes；〃　said　Henry　sleepily；　〃　it's　a　good　country。〃

The　hour　slipped　smoothly　by；　and　Paul　said：

〃　Time　for　Long　Jim　to　be　back。〃

〃Jim　don't　do　things　by　halves；〃　said　the　shiftless　one。　　〃Guess　he's　beatin'　up　every　squar'　inch　o'　the　bushes。　　He'll　be　here　soon。〃

A　quarter　of　an　hour　passed；　and　Long　Jim　did　not　return；　a　half　hour；　and　no　sign　of　him。　　Henry　cast　off　the　blanket　and　stood　up。　　The　night　was　not　very　dark　and　he　could　see　some　distance；　but　he　did　not　see　their　comrade。

〃I　wonder　why　he's　so　slow；〃　he　said　with　a　faint　trace　of　anxiety。

〃He'll　be　'long　directly；〃　said　Tom　Ross　with　confidence。

Another　quarter　of　an　hour；　and　no　Long　Jim。　　Henry　sent　forth　the　low　penetrating　cry　of　the　wolf　that　they　used　so　often　as　a　signal。

〃He　cannot　fail　to　hear　that；〃　he　said；　〃and　he'll　answer。〃

No　answer　came。　　The　four　looked　at　one　another　in　alarm。　　Long　Jim　had　been　gone　nearly　two　hours；　and　he　was　long　overdue。　　His　failure　to　reply　to　the　signal　indicated　either　that　something　ominous　had　happened　or　that…　he　had　gone　much　farther　than　they　meant　for　him　to　go。

The　others　had　risen　to　their　feet；　also；　and　they　stood　a　little　while　in　silence。

〃What　do　you　think　it　means？〃　asked　Paul。

〃It　must　be　all　right；〃　said　Shif'less　Sol。　　〃Mebbe　Jim　has　lost　the　camp。〃

Henry　shook　his　head。

〃It　isn't　that；〃　he　said。　〃Jim　is　too　good　a　woodsman　for　such　a　mistake。　　I　don't　want　to　look　on　the　black　side；　boys；　but　I　think　something　has　happened　to　Jim。〃

〃Suppose　you　an'　me　go　an'　look　for　him；〃　said　Shif'less　Sol；　〃while　Paul　and　Tom　stay　here　an'　keep　house。〃

〃We'd　better　do　it；〃　said　Henry。　　〃Come；　Sol。〃

The　two；　rifles　in　the　hollows　of　their　arms；　disappeared　in　the　darkness；　while　Tom　and　Paul　withdrew　into　the　deepest　shadow　of　the　trees　and　waited。

Henry　and　the　shiftless　one　pursued　an　anxious　quest；　going　about　the　camp　in　a　great　circle　and　then　in　another　yet　greater。　　They　did　not　find　Jim；　and　the　dusk　was　so　great　that　they　saw　no　evidences　of　his　trail。　　Long　Jim　had　disappeared　as　completely　as　if　he　had　left　the　earth　for　another　planet。　　When　they　felt　that　they　must　abandon　the　search　for　the　time；　Henry　and　Shif'less　Sol　looked　at　each　other　in　a　dismay　that　the　dusk　could　not　hide。

〃Mebbe　be　saw　some　kind　uv　a　sign；　an'　has　followed　it；〃　said　the　shiftless　one　hopefully。　　〃If　anything　looked　mysterious　an'　troublesome；　Jim　would　want　to　hunt　it　down。〃

〃I　hope　so；〃　said　Henry；　〃but　we've　got　to　go　back　to　the　camp　now　and　report　failure。　　Perhaps　he'll　show　up　to…morrow；　but　I　don't　like　it；　Sol；　I　don't　like　it！〃

〃No　more　do　I；〃　said　Shif'less　Sol。　　〃'Tain't　like　Jim　not　to　come　back；　ef　he　could。　　Mebbe　he'll　drop　in　afore　day；　anyhow。〃

They　returned　to　the　camp；　and　two　inquiring　figures　rose　up　out　of　the　darkness。

〃You　ain't　seen　him？〃　said　Tom；　noting　that　but　two　figures　had　returned。

〃Not　a　trace；〃　replied　Henry。　　〃It's　a　singular　thing。〃

The　four　talked　together　a　little　while；　and　they　were　far　from　cheerful。　　Then　three　sought　sleep；　while　Henry　stayed　on　watch；　sitting　with　his　back　against　a　tree　and　his　rifle　on　his　knees。　　All　the　peace　and　content　that　be　had　felt　earlier　in　the　evening　were　gone。　　He　was　oppressed　by　a　sense　of　danger；　mysterious　and　powerful。　　It　did　not　seem　possible　that　Long　Jim　could　have　gone　away　in　such　a　noiseless　manner；　leaving　no　trace　behind。　　But　it　was　true。

He　watched　with　both　ear　and　eye　as　much　for　Long　Jim　as　for　an　enemy。　　He　was　still　hopeful　that　he　would　see　the　long；　thin　figure　coming　among　the　bushes；　and　then　hear　the　old　pleasant　drawl。　　But　he　did　not　see　the　figure；　nor　did　he　hear　the　drawl。

Time　passed　with　the　usual　slow　step　when　one　watches。　　Paul；　Sol；　and　Tom　were　asleep；　but　Henry　was　never　wider　awake　in　his　life。　　He　tried　to　put　away　the　feeling　of　mystery　and　danger。　　He　assured　himself　that　Long　Jim　would　soon　come；　delayed　by　some　trail　that　he　had　sought　to　solve。　　Nothing　could　have　happened　to　a　man　so　brave　and　skillful。　　His　nerves　must　be　growing　weak　when　he　allowed　himself　to　be　troubled　so　much　by　a　delayed　return。

But　the　new　hours　came；　one　by　one；　and　Long　Jim　came　with　none　of　them。　　The　night　remained　fairly　light；　with　a　good　moon；　but　the　light　that　it　threw　over　the　forest　was　gray　and　uncanny。　　Henry's　feeling　of　mystery　and　danger　deepened。　　Once　he　thought　he　heard　a　rustling　in　the　thicket　and；　finger　on　the　trigger　of　his　rifle；　he　stole　among　the　bushes　to　discover　what　caused　it。　He　found　nothing　and；　returning　to　his　lonely　watch；　saw　that　Paul；　Sol；　and　Tom　were　still　sleeping　soundly。　　But　Henry　was　annoyed　greatly　by　the　noise；　and　yet　more　by　his　failure　to　trace　its　origin。　　After　an　hour's　watching　he　looked　a　second　time。　　The　result　was　once　more　in　vain；　and　he　resumed　his　seat　upon　the　leaves；　with　his　back　reclining　against　an　oak。　　Here；　despite　the　fact　that　the　night　was　growing　darker；　nothing　within　range　of　a　rifle　shot　could　escape　his　eyes。

Nothing　stirred。　　The　noise　did　not　come　a　second　time　from　the　thicket。　　The　very　silence　was　oppressive。　　There　was　no　wind；　not　even　a　stray　puff；　and　the　bushes　never　rustled。　　Henry　longed　for　a　noise　of　some　kind　to　break　that　terrible；　oppressive　silence。　　What　he　really　wished　to　hear　was　the　soft　crunch　of　Long　Jim's　moccasins　on　the　grass　and　leaves。

The　night　passed；　the　day　came；　and　Henry　awakened　his　comrades。　　Long　Jim　was　still　missing　and　their　alarm　was　justified。　　Whatever　trail　lie　might　have　struck；　he　would　have　returned　in　the　night　unless　something　had　happened　to　him。　　Henry　had　vague　theories；　but　nothing　definite；　and　he　kept　them　to　himself。　　Yet　they　must　make　a　change　in　their　plans。　　To　go　on　and　leave　Long　Jim　to　whatever　fate　might　be　his　was　unthinkable。　　No　task　could　interfere　with　the　duty　of　the　five　to　one　another。

〃We　are　in　one　of　the　most　dangerous　of　all　the　Indian　countries；〃　said　Henry。　　〃We　are　on　the　fringe　of　the　region　over　which　the　Six　Nations　roam；　and　we　know　that　Timmendiquas　and　a　band　of　the　Wyandots　are　here　also。　　Perhaps　Miamis　and　Shawnees　have　come；　too。〃

〃We've　got　to　find　Long　Jim；〃　said　Silent　Tom　briefly。

They　went　about　their　task　in　five　minutes。　　Breakfast　consisted　of　cold　venison　and　a　drink　from　a　brook。　　Then　they　began　to　search　the　forest。　　They　felt　sure　that　such　woodsmen　as　they；　with　the　daylight　to　help　them；　would　find　some　trace　of　Long　Jim；　but　they　saw　none　at　all；　although　they　constantly　widened　their　circle；　and　again　tried　all　their　signals。　　Half　the　forenoon　passed　in　the　vain　search；　and　then　they　held　a　council。

I　think　we'd　better　scatter；〃　said　Shif'less　Sol；　〃an'　meet　here　again　when　the　sun　marks　noon。〃

It　was　agreed；　and　they　took　careful　note　of　the　place；　a　little　hill　crowned　with　a　thick　cluster　of　black　oaks；　a　landmark　easy　to　remember。　　Henry　turned　toward　the　south；　and　the　forest　was　so　dense　that　in　two　minutes　all　his　comrades　were　lost　to　sight。　　He　went　several　miles；　and　his　search　was　most　rigid。　　He　was　amazed　to　find　that　the　sense　of　mystery　and　danger　that　he　attributed　to　the　darkness　of　the　night　did　not　disappear　wholly　in　the　bright　daylight。　　His　spirit；　usually　so　optimistic；　was　oppressed　by　it；　and　he　had　no　belief　that　they　would　find　Long　Jim。

At　the　set　time　he　returned　to　the　little　hill　crowned　with　the　black　oaks；　and　as　he　approached　it　from　one　side　he　saw　Shif'less　Sol　coming　from　another。　　The　shiftless　one　walked　despondently。　　His　gait　was　loose　and　shambling…a　rare　thing　with　him；　and　Henry　knew　that　he；　too；　had　failed。　　He　realized　now　that　he　had　not　expected　anything　else。　　　　Shif'less　Sol　shook　his　head；　sat　down　on　a　root　and　said　nothing。　　Henry　sat　down；　also；　and　tile　two　exchanged　a　look　of　discouragement。

〃The　others　will　be　here　directly；〃　said　Henry；　〃and　perhaps　Long　Jim　will　be　with　one　of　them。〃

But　in　his　heart　he　knew　that　it　would　not　be　so；　and　the　shiftless　one　knew　that　he　had　no　confidence　in　his　own　words。

〃　If　not；〃　said　Henry；　resolved　to　see　the　better　side；　we'll　stay　anyhow　until　we　find　him。　　We　can't　spare　good　old　Long　Jim。〃

Shif'less　Sol　did　not　reply；　nor　did　Henry　speak　again；　until　lie　saw　the　bushes　moving　slightly　three　or　four　hundred　yards　away。

〃There　comes　Tom；〃　he　said；　after　a　single　comprehensive　glance；　〃and　he's　alone。〃

Tom　Ross　was　also　a　dejected　figure。　　He　looked　at　the　two　on　the　hill；　and；　seeing　that　the　man　for　whom　they　were　searching　was　not　with　them；　became　more　dejected　than　before。

〃Paul's　our　last　chance；〃　he　said；　as　he　joined　them。　　He's　gen'rally　a　lucky　boy；　an'　mebbe　it　will　be　so　with　him　to…day。〃

I　hope　so；〃　said　Henry　fervently。　　〃　He　ought　to　be　along　in　a　few　minutes。〃

They　waited　patiently；　although　they　really　had　no　belief　that　Paul　would　bring　in　the　missing　man；　but　Paul　was　late。　　The　noon　hour　was　well　past。　　Henry　took　a　glance　at　the　sun。　　Noon　was　gone　at　least　a　half　hour；　and　he　stirred　uneasily。

〃Paul　couldn't　get　lost　in　broad　daylight；〃　he　said。

〃No；〃　said　Shif'less　Sol；　〃he　couldn't　get　lost！〃

Henry　noticed　his　emphasis　on　the　word　〃lost；〃　and　a　sudden　fear　sprang　up　in　his　heart。　　Some　power　had　taken　away　Long　Jim；　could　the　same　power　have　seized　Paul？　　It　was　a　premonition；　and　he　paled　under　his　brown；　turning　away　lest　the　others　see　his　face。　　All　three　now　examined　the　whole　circle　of　the　horizon　for　a　sight　of　moving　bushes　that　would　tell　of　the　boy's　coming。

The　forest　told　nothing。　　The　sun　blazed　brightly　over　everything；　and　Paul；　like　Long　Jim；　did　not　come。　　He　was　an　hour　past　due；　and　the　three；　oppressed　already　by　Long　jim's　disappearance；　were　convinced　that　he　would　not　return。　　But　they　gave　him　a　half　hour　longer。　　Then　Henry　said：

〃We　must　hunt　for　him；　but　we　must　not　separate。　　Whatever　happens　we　three　must　stay　together。〃

I'm　not　hankerin'　to　roam　'roun　jest　now　all　by　myself；〃　said　the　shiftless　one；　with　an　uneasy　laugh。

The　three　hunted　all　that　afternoon　for　Paul。　　Once　they　saw　trace　of　footsteps；　apparently　his；　in　some　soft　earth；　but　they　were　quickly；　lost　on　hard　ground；　and　after　that　there　was　nothing。　　They　stopped　shortly　before　sunset　at　the　edge　of　a　narrow　but　deep　creek。

〃What　do　you　think　of　it；　Henry？〃　asked　Shif'less　　Sol。

〃I　don't　know　what　to　think；〃　replied　the　youth；　〃but　it　seems　to　me　that　whatever　took　away　Jim　has　taken　away　Paul；　also。〃

〃Looks　like　it；〃　said　Sol；　〃an'　I　guess　it　follers　that　we're　in　the　same　kind　o'　danger。〃

〃We　three　of　us　could　put　up　a　good　fight；〃　said　Henry；　〃　and　I　propose　that　we　don't　go　back　to　that　camp；　but　spend　the　night　here。〃

〃Yes；　an'　watch　good；〃　said　Tom　Ross。

Their　new　camp　was　made　quickly　in　silence；　merely　the　grass　under　the　low　boughs　of　a　tree。　　Their　supper　was　a　little　venison；　and　then　they　watched　the　coming　of　the。　darkness。　　　It　was　a　heavy　hour　for　the　three。　　Long　Jim　was　gone；　and　then　Paul…Paul；　the　youngest；　and；　in　a　way；　the　pet　of　the　little　band。

〃Ef　we　could　only　know　how　it　happened；〃　whispered　Shif'less